Help Needed on Saturday: James will need some Marshals and helpers at the finish line to run the race. Please contact him if you can assist.

Don’t forget to bring your helmet with you when you signon

To meet new AVCC rules, remember that we all have to comply with the following conditions for racing;

·Helmets – All members must wear helmets that meet Australian Standards. Competitors must present their helmet for inspection prior to the race to confirm it has one of the Australian Standards approval labels (shown below) and is in good condition.

·Bikes – Bikes must be roadworthy. Bikes will be checked for independent front and rear brakes and fitted with handlebar plugs.

·Racing Jerseys must cover upper arms and shoulders.

·Race Number: All riders must wear race numbers. To assist in an emergency, contact details should be recorded on the race number.

Race Report Orroral Graded Scratch

Despite the record low temperature early Saturday morning, the first day of Spring quickly became reasonably warm and sunny with only light winds, in fact out in the Orroral Valley it was an ideal day for a bike race. Too bad not more club members turned up for the ‘challenging’ ride between the Boboyan Rd / Orroral Rd intersection and the carpark at the now deserted site of the Orroral Valley Tracking Station. Still, 45 starters and 4 helpers was not a bad attendance but there must have been something to keep many of the regular participants away. Perhaps it was the reputation of Orroral as a tough course and previous races in lousy weather that deterred a few. Mike Spoljaric was not put off though, it was his birthday and he must have decided it was a good way to celebrate the occasion.

Course details originally included heading south on Boboyan Rd down to Glendale Crossing. This leg was deleted to avoid the potential hazard of making a right hand turn across traffic approaching the intersection downhill at speed. Additional laps on the Orroral Rd were added to make up the required distance of 51 km for ABCD and 39 km for EFG.

Apart from G, each grade had a reasonable number of starters at the line. The higher grades headed off towards the Tracking Station while EFG started uphill towards the intersection. The multi lap course meant that everyone would go past the start / finish at the campground 3 or 4 times depending on grade. Even when riders came back the first time it was evident that the hilly terrain was taking its toll. Most of the grades were already split to some extent and with each subsequent lap the gaps between the leaders and those trying to catch up gradually increased.

On each lap the temptation to stop for a premature cuppa and cake in the sunny environs of the campground saw many choose this option as an alternative to grinding up more hills on their own. If the morning temperature set a record, it was nothing compared to the record attrition rate of riders who decided to DNF at various stages of the race. 15 out of 45 ie; 33% failed to complete the required distance.

Times and average speeds verified that the Orroral course is not an easy one, so well done to all those who persisted and reached the chequered flag. Needless to say, large bunch sprints were not the order of the day. The only grades where the winner was determined by a serious sprint were A grade Trevor Rix and C grade Jason Parkes. The other winners cruised over the line well ahead of their rivals ie, B grade Tom Hartley, D grade Anthony Pratt, E grade Frank Lemon, F grade Mary Lovett and G grade Krissa O’Neil.

Many thanks to the helpers on the day, Bruce Jones and Linda Stals at the turns, Kevin Hennessy and Henry Beaverstock doing sign on, judging and timing. Thanks also to Mary Lovett who apart from winning F grade brought along a prize winning oatmeal slice that was enjoyed by many after the race. Not sure what was in it, but if it had been passed around before the race there might have been fewer DNFs. First aid officer was Brendan Farnhill, whose expertise, fortunately, was not put to the test..

Hartley Lifecare 24hr Wheel-a-thon.

Hartley Lifecare is running a 24 bike relay to raise money for the Assistive Technology Program.

The Assistive Technology program helps children and adults gain greater independence, integrate socially, access the community and education and the workplace, communicate with others, and, help establish control within their environment.

24 hours of fun will make a huge difference to the life of a person living with a disability.

Your chance to have a say about cycling in Canberra in the lead up to the ACT Election.

There will be presentations from the ACT Greens, ACT Labor and the Canberra Liberals and the opportunity for questions from the floor. Attendance is free.

Members who would like to raise their views with the party representatives are encouraged to attend.

ACT Veterans Member Profile

In our next member profile we look at we look at Wayne Gregson;

How long have you been a member of ACT Vets?

I think I was first a member in the mid 90’s but I haven’t been a consistent member over the years. I re-joined most recently in 2011.

What is your favourite course in the ACT Vets racing calendar and why?

I don’t race all that often but I do enjoy the Urriarra homestead course particularly if the race goes up towards Condor Creek and finishes downhill. I can’t sprint so the climb over the last hill on Brindabella Rd suits me. I also really enjoyed the Gunning Old Hume Highway course earlier this winter.

What Grade did you start in with the Vets?

Most recently E Grade. Currently in D Grade where the top guys are really strong by my standards.

What do you like about racing with the Vets?

The fact that I’m not the oldest guy going around!! I enjoy mountain bike racing as well but as a “Grand Master” (over 60) there is often no one else in my class or the organisers don’t even bother with that category.

How long have you been cycling?

I’ve raced on and off since I was 15 so that’s 50 years. I was one of the founding members of the Canberra Amateur Cycling club formed in 1962 so this year would the 50th anniversary if the club still existed. Our first race was on the Barton Highway starting near the radio Station – very little traffic in those days! Road races were also held on the airport road going out to Bungendore or turning left on the Sutton Road and we often raced at Goulburn with the GAC. There was an annual race starting on the Monaro Highway and finishing at Cooma. Track racing was at Queanbeyan on Sunday mornings and Goulburn (often under lights) with occasional trips to Unanderra or Wiley Park.

What got you interested in cycling?

We all rode bikes in those days to get around and some of us were interested in bike racing – I must have read Russel Mockridge’s “My World on Wheels” twenty times! A guy called Eddie O’Brien who was a top rider with the Brunswick Club in Melbourne got transferred to Canberra. When Eddie discovered there was no amateur bike club in Canberra he decided to get one going. He would bail up anyone on a racing bike and get their phone number so that by the time a meeting was called he had a few names and we went from there. I saw Eddie recently. He is well into his eighties but still has his old road and track bikes and rides occasionally.

What was your most memorable ride?

When I was 15 I rode to Young and back (160kms each way) on my fixed wheel on the October long weekend. On the way over on the Saturday it was incredibly hot so by the time I got to Harden I was nearly dead. It basically took me all day to get to Young. The ride home on the Monday was a lot better. I left very early, had a roaring tail wind and got chased by magpies every few kms. I was home in Campbell in 5 hours flat.

What is/was your favourite bike?

My current bike is the best I’ve ever owned – a Giant TCR Composite O about 5 years old. I bought it from a friend a couple of years ago. I still hanker to own a nice fixed wheel track bike again though.

Where do you work?

I’m retired but still do some consulting from time to time.

How do you find the time to train?

I’m retired! (but I still do some running training as well for orienteering so I don’t ride every day).

Do you have a special training regime?

No – and it shows up when I race. I try and do about 5 hours a week using both road and mountain bikes and I try and focus on hilly rides. Up to the end of the bitumen on Brindabella Rd on a crisp clear winter day is my favourite.

What does your family think of your cycling?

Neutral to mildly supportive I guess. My daughter is about to go in her first mountain bike race so she is interested in my riding. My son is a keen orienteer and rides only occasionally. My wife reminds me not to fall off and isn’t at all convinced that bike shorts are a fashion item.

An interesting fact about yourself;

I rarely walk past a bike shop without going in for a look – even in the smallest country town. Like a lot of other vets no doubt I have an enduring fascination with racing bikes!

Race Referees

The other change required by the AVCC is that all future racing must be conducted by club registered Race Referees. The race committee is asking for volunteers to take on the role. The Referee should be knowledgeable in the rules of the AVCC, and the club, and be willing to enforce those rules to the benefit of the club and its members.

These members will be put on a rotating roster to undertake their duties throughout the year, with consideration given to obligations. Each referee will receive their membership for the year that they are roster at the clubs expense.

As everyone has already joined for this year we will wave all future race fees for the rest of the year for all this years rostered referees in lieu. The need for volunteers is a matter of urgency and we must be able to meet this requirement before the start of the winter season when the new policy will take effect.

The important question to be asked is what happens if we don’t get the minimum number of referees. The race committee will be forced to reassess the calendar and reduce the number of races.